Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Review: Naughty by Nature

Patience Rose Farnaly was easily lured away from her wealthy family by the false love of a dangerous man. Rather than face a grim future on the streets, Patience struggled to find honest work as an actress. But when the irresistibly charming Earl of Ramscar offers her legitimate employ in London as a lady’s companion to his sister, Patience snaps up the chance…although her attraction to Ramscar leaves her on shaky ground.

Ever since a devastating fire left his sister brutally scarred, Ramscar vowed to protect the little family he has left. Now that Patience has been hired to be his sister’s companion, his conscience is clear—even if his imagination won’t let him rest. Haunted by fantasies of the beautiful, beguiling Patience, it’s only a matter of time before they enter into an illicit affair—one that might threaten Ramscar’s status among les sauvages nobles if Patience’s dark past comes to light…and could destroy them both.

If you are in the mood for a Regency that’s not your mother’s Regency, you could do much worse than pick up Naughty by Nature, the third offering in a series that includes Wicked Under the Covers and Sinful Between the Sheets.

Barbara weaves a tale of romance, sexuality, and intrigue that had me turning the pages as fast as I could read them. The main character, Patience Rose Farnaly, is “rebellious, opinionated, and inclined to lie.” And these lies, while they get her out of some situations, get her in others she’s not so easily extricated from.

The web she weaves about herself tightens as she is hired as the companion to the Earl of Ramscar’s scarred sister…a position which finds her becoming attached to all the members of the household much more than she desires. And, the feelings which the Earl awakens in her innocent, though not virginal, body cannot be resisted.

This reader was drawn into her dilemma. The passion between the main characters grows with every page, as well as the bond between them. When that bond is threatened by the past and lies are revealed, the reader is right there with the characters, feeling every emotion they feel.

I will definitely be seeking out the other books in Barbara Pierce’s backlist and look forward to her next offering, Scandalous by Night, coming out in August. If you want a sexy read for an afternoon delight, pick up Naughty by Nature and be drawn back to a more romantic time.

RATING EXPLANATION:

1 Star— At this time, we at LASR do not post these reviews. If the book was boring, badly edited, poorly written, had little or no plot, stilted dialogue, and/or unsympathetic characters, we will decline the review.

2 Stars— Not wonderful, but tolerable. There may be some minor editing glitches but not enough to stop you reading. Not a wall-banger, but nothing you'd re-read. This is a book you would borrow from the library - not buy - and never check out again.

3 Stars— Good. Mostly enjoyable. You made it through and didn't consider it a waste of time or money. The story was strong enough or the conflict tight enough, so even when the book faltered, it was able to draw you back in and keep you. There's a chance you'll recommend it to a friend, but it wouldn't go on your keeper shelf.

4 Stars— Very Good. You're glad you were the one who got to review the book. You would probably buy it and would definitely recommend it to your friends. You liked the characters and the plot. The writing style was good and the editing clean.

5 Stars— Great! You would definitely buy this book. You would definitely recommend it to your friends. You really loved the characters and the plot and would consider looking for this authors back list or making her an autobuy. The writing and editing were superb.

LASR Best Book - For a book or story that is truly exceptional. You think about it when you're not reading it. You wonder what happens to the characters when you finish. You would absolutely buy everything else this author had to offer. The highest praise - and reserved for only a few.

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